Tissue noradrenaline and the polyol pathway in experimentally diabetic rats

1. The effects of a six week period of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on tissue catecholamines and on in vivo noradrenaline turnover were assessed in rats. 2. Noradrenaline concentrations measured in heart ventricle, terminal ileum, vas deferens, spleen and adrenal tissue from the diabetic rats were all found to be elevated compared to those found in control rat tissues. The adrenaline contents of the adrenal glands were also raised in these animals. 3. Noradrenaline turnover in heart ventricle, terminal ileum and vas deferens was estimated from the decline in tissue content of the amine following inhibition of its synthesis with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Turnover was found to be increased in all three tissues. 4. The involvement of the polyol pathway in the above changes was investigated by examining the effects of continuous treatment with an aldose reductase inhibitor, Statil (ICI 128436) or dietary myo-inositol supplementation. Either treatment was found to prevent or reduce the increases in tissue noradrenaline and in its turnover. Myo-inositol treatment also partially prevented the rise in adrenal adrenaline. 5. It is concluded that the elevation of tissue catecholamines and of noradrenaline turnover by diabetes was related to myo-inositol depletion secondary to excessive sorbitol synthesis. Possible mechanisms for the observed increase in noradrenaline turnover could involve Na+, K+-ATPase depression.